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Swapan Kumar Singh :
Italian tennis great and two-time French Open champion, Nicola Pietrangeli, passed away on Monday, 1 December, at the age of 92.
The Italian Tennis Federation confirmed his death in an official statement, paying tribute to one of the country’s most accomplished athletes.
Pietrangeli made history in 1959 by becoming the first Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title at the French Open, successfully defending his title at Roland Garros the following year. He also finished as runner-up at the French Open in 1961 and 1964.
In addition, he reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 1960 and the quarter-finals at the Australian Open in 1957. Pietrangeli remains the only Italian to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and was widely regarded as Italy’s greatest tennis player of all time before the rise of world No. 2 and four-time Grand Slam winner Jannik Sinner.
Representing Italy in the Davis Cup, he played a record 164 matches, winning 120. Under his leadership, Italy captured its first Davis Cup title in 1976. Over his career, Pietrangeli won a total of 48 titles.
Pietrangeli’s passing marks not just the loss of a legendary athlete, but the end of an era in Italian tennis. His unique style, achievements, and personality have left an indelible mark on the sport. Fans and analysts alike will remember him as one of Italy’s all-time tennis greats.
